December 27th - This Date in Wine History

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Louis Pasteur by Félix Nadar

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature This Date In Wine History, we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

  • The Methuen Treaty, that established the wine trade between Portugal and England was signed in 1703. This gave Britons access to Portuguese wine during war with France.
  • Louis Pasteur, French chemist and microbiologist who demonstrated that microorganisms contaminated fermenting beverages thus allowing him to invent the process of "pasteurization" was born in 1822.
  • The Valpolicella DOC designation was established in 1990.
  • The Australian Geographical Indications "The Peninsulas” "Far North” "Fleurieu" "Limestone Coast” and"Mount Lofty Ranges" were registered in 1996.

December 23rd - This Date in Wine History

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Map of Redwood Valley by Gretchen Miller Neuman for Qorkz. 

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature This Date In Wine History, we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

  • Bonfort’s Wine and Spirit Circular reports that weather on this date in 1889 had been so bad that there were fewer customers to purchase brandy in Charentes.
  • California's Redwood Valley AVA was designated in 1996.
  • Happy Festivus.  Please watch your imbibing of spirits before the airing of grievances or feats of strength.

December 7th - This Date in Wine History

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Raise a glass to the heroes who died at Pearl Harbor, December 7th, 1941

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature This Date In Wine History, we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

  • André Tchelistcheff, the "dean of American winemakers was born in 1901.
  • The Australian Geographical Indication "Lower Murray" was registered in 1996. 
  • California's Ramona Valley AVA was designated in 2005.
  • The Texoma AVA was designated in 2005.
  • Washington's Wahluke Slope AVA was designated in 2005.

Editor's Note:  We at Qorkz honor the sacrifices of the U.S. Navy at Pearl Harbor.  Our CEO is a Navy vet, while my grandfather missed dying on the USS Utah by missing the ferry out to his ship. At some point today, please raise a glass and toast those who died and those who survived.  God bless America.

November 22nd - This Date in Wine History

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Image of Pedro Ximinez grapes by Viala and Vermorel

Wine has a long established history of being our drink of choice for celebrating, entertaining, and savoring life; but it didn't start out that way. From the invention of the barrel to the designation of the separate viticultural areas, wine has a long and sorted history.  In our daily feature This Date In Wine History, we share an event of critical importance in wine history.

  • Italy’s Brindisi Rosso DOC was created in 1979. 
  • France’s Anjou AOC was revised in 1991. 
  • Italy's Piedmont Chardonnay Pinot Spumante DOC was created in 1994. 
  • Spain's La Mancha DO was established in 1996.
  • Spain's Málaga DO was established in 2001.  These wines are made of Pedro Ximinez and Moscatel grapes.